Finland attracts with the untouched beauty of its nature, because in this country it is treated very carefully, with fabulous Lapland, fishing and the opportunity to take a steam bath in a real sauna. For residents of Russia, and especially its western part, traveling to this country will not be tiring at all, because you can get there by car, plane, train or ferry. The capital of Finland, Helsinki, is a mandatory component of any trip around the country. The city was founded in the middle of the sixteenth century, but for a long time was in the shadow of the then capital of the state - Turku. Only in 1812 did Helsinki become the capital (at first a principality within the Russian Empire, and later an independent state).
What is attractive about the capital of Finland
Despite the rather inhospitable climate, a large number of travelers from all over Europe come to Helsinki every year. The city is among the leaders in terms of quality of life, is the cultural and scientific center of the country. By Russian standards, the city is not very big,because its population is about 600 thousand people. Speaking about the number of local residents, a large figure is sometimes voiced - 1.3 million, but this figure includes people living in satellite cities located in the vicinity of the capital. A third of Helsinki's area is occupied by parks.
While spending the weekend in Finland and not having much time, Helsinki is worth seeing:
- Senate Square with a monument to Alexander II, the emperor who gave autonomy to the Principality;
- the building of the City Council, on the wall of which there is a clock, which is the oldest in Finland;
- Assumption Cathedral;
- Kauppatori - one of the busiest squares in the city, with a granite obelisk with a double-headed eagle, which was built on the occasion of the visit of Emperor Nicholas I and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna;
- the central station of the city, which is one of the most famous monuments of Finnish architecture;
- church carved into the rock and covered with a dome - a place whose acoustics were highly appreciated by Mstislav Rostropovich;
- observation deck of the tower of the Olympic Stadium.
Distances in the city are small. Traditionally, as in many cities, a significant part of architectural monuments and museums are located in the historical center.
The ferry takes you to the sea fortress of Suomenlinna, which is located a few kilometers from Helsinki. Built by the Swedes in the 18th century, it was a strategic element of defense against threats,coming from the east, and is still considered one of the largest in the world.
The capital of Finland is interesting not only for its history and sights, but also for its holidays, carnivals and festivals held several times a year and dedicated to various holidays. Below is a short list of such events that will be very interesting to visit if your trip to Helsinki falls on these dates:
- 1 May - carnival on the occasion of the holiday;
- June 12 - City Day;
- June (dates change every year) - Samba Festival;
- August 17 (dates subject to change) - marathon;
- first week of October - Herring Festival.
Shopping enthusiasts will also enjoy the capital of Finland, as several of the largest department stores operate in the city, and grandiose sales are held in April and October each year. In the city center there are several largest multi-brand stores at once, including Stockmann, Sokos and Forum. On the outskirts, Itakeskus operates, with hundreds of different stores located on its territory.
Of course, a trip to Finland is not only a visit to Helsinki. Be sure to visit Lapland - a fairy-tale country and the homeland of Santa Claus. Here you can perfectly spend both summer and winter holidays, as there are plenty of opportunities for this (fishing, ski resorts, sauna, fresh air and beautiful lakes).
